Saudi Arabia supports Somalia's sovereignty and rejects partition plans
In a diplomatic move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's significant influence in the Islamic world, Riyadh reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia during the extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah. His Excellency Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the meeting on behalf of His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A firm rejection of any attempt to undermine the unity of Somalia
The Kingdom's statement put an end to speculation and attempts to destabilize the Horn of Africa, with the Deputy Foreign Minister affirming the Kingdom's full support for Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. The statement specifically highlighted the Kingdom's complete rejection of the declaration of "mutual recognition" between the Israeli occupation authorities and the breakaway region of Somaliland. The Kingdom considered this move a perpetuation of unilateral actions that blatantly violate the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which stipulates respect for the sovereignty of member states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
Dimensions of the Saudi position and its regional impact
This Saudi stance is not arbitrary; rather, it stems from a long history of the Kingdom's foreign policy, which has consistently prioritized bridging Arab and Islamic divides. This Saudi warning carries significant strategic implications, as attempts to legitimize separatist entities are viewed as a direct threat to Arab and African national security. Allowing the existence of parallel entities or recognizing them opens the door to a wave of instability and fragmentation in a vital region overlooking global shipping lanes.
Al-Khuraiji stressed the Kingdom’s complete rejection of any attempts to impose a new reality that contradicts the unity of Somalia, affirming Riyadh’s support for the legitimate Somali state institutions to enable them to extend their influence over the entire national territory, which enhances the opportunities for development and stability for the brotherly Somali people who have suffered for many years from the ravages of conflicts.
A call for coordinated Islamic and international action
The Kingdom did not merely announce its position, but also called upon the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its member states to adopt a firm, collective stance. Riyadh demanded that no dealings be made with any separatist entities, holding Israel fully responsible for the political and security repercussions that might arise from this unacceptable diplomatic breach. The Deputy Foreign Minister also called for coordinated action in international forums to prevent the creation of dangerous legal precedents that threaten the cohesion of sovereign states.
The centrality of the Palestinian issue
In a related context, the Palestinian issue was also addressed in the Kingdom's statement, with Al-Khuraiji reaffirming the centrality of the Palestinian cause in Saudi foreign policy. The statement linked respect for international law in Somalia to the necessity of its application in Palestine, reiterating support for all efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and establish their independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This reflects the comprehensiveness of the Saudi vision regarding the issues facing the Arab world.
